NOVEMBER 2017 | NO.167 | ISSN 1322-3771 MCC NewsCLUB NEWS A DAY TO REMEMBER FOR RICHMOND FANS As the Tigers ROARED to their first FLAG in 37 years. See pages 12-13. NOVEMBER 2017 MCC NEWS 1 CLUB NEWS Life membership for Paul Sheahan aul has strong ties to the MCC that go back several Three committee members – Adrian Anderson, Clare Cannon decades. A First XI premiership player, he is an MCC and Peter King – stood for re-election by rotation. Duncan PHonorary Cricket member, a XXIX Club member and in Banks, Bill Hodges Jr and John Mugavin presented themselves 2000 was selected in the MCC Team of the Century. He is also a for election via the ballot process. The results of the election Life member of the Marylebone Cricket Club. were were as follows: $QHOHJDQWULJKWKDQGEDWVPDQDQGāQHFRYHUāHOGVPDQKH played 31 Tests for Australia between 1967 and 1974, scoring 1594 CANDIDATE TOTAL VOTES runs at 33.91, including two centuries. For Victoria, he scored UXQVLQāUVWFODVVPDWFKHVDWWKHH[FHOOHQWDYHUDJHRI CANNON, Clare* 5889 59.52. He was also an MCC First XI premiership player. KING, Peter* 5528 ANDERSON, Adrian* 5519 Seemingly on the verge of becoming Australia's regular Test MUGAVIN, P. John 3638 opening batsman, Paul retired at the relatively young age of 27 HODGES, Bill Jr 1926 to concentrate on his teaching career. He eventually served as BANKS, Duncan 1413 headmaster at Melbourne Grammar School (1995-2009) after a decade as principal at Geelong College (1986-95). *retiring but seeking re-election Paul served on the MCC Committee for 28 years (1987-2015), including eight years as a vice-president and four years as As a result, Adrian Anderson, Clare Cannon and Peter King were president (2011-15). He chaired the Club Sub-committee and re-elected. During general business, members posed a number was a member of the Cricket Sub-committee. of operational questions to which the president, CEO and senior He was just the second MCC president to have played management responded. Test cricket, after Hans Ebeling.Paul has also had an active involvement in many organisations, including as director of the Sir Robert Menzies Foundation, patron of the Anglicare Bequests Program, president of Lord’s Taverners Victoria and board member of The Alfred Hospital Foundation. He has also been a director of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and an Australia Day ambassador. In the 2014 Australia Day honours, Paul was made a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia 'for VLJQLāFDQWVHUYLFHWRVHFRQGDU\HGXFDWLRQDVDWHDFKHU and through roles with sporting, charitable and community organisations'. "This great club has given me far more than I could ever give it,” Sheahan said in accepting Honorary Life membership. “It is Paul Sheahan (left) is congratulated by MCC president, Steven Smith, an honour I don’t deserve, but one that I will treasure forever.” after receiving Honorary Life membership at the club’s Annual (DUOLHULQWKHHYHQLQJSUHVLGHQW6WHYHQ6PLWK&(26WXDUW)R[ General Meeting in August. and treasurer Michael Andrew addressed the meeting and spoke to their reports contained in the 2016/17 Annual Report. MCC CONTACTS Mail PO Box 175, East Melbourne, Vic, 8002 T (03) 9657 8888 F (03) 9650 5682 Country and interstate 1300 367 622 Web www.mcc.org.au Email [email protected] Editorial contact [email protected] Publisher Melbourne Cricket Club Photography Unless otherwise credited, images provided by MCC, SDP Media, Michelle Couling Photography or Getty images. Copyright Editorial material in MCC News is copyright and may not be reproduced without prior permission from the Publisher. twitter.com/MCC_Members facebook.com/melbournecricketclub instagram.com/mcg 2 MCC NEWS NOVEMBER 2017 CLUB NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENT STEVEN SMITH, PRESIDENT he MCG enjoyed one of the most DWWHQGHGWKHāQDOVVHULHVDQGDOVRWKH As part of our ongoing commitment to TH[FLWLQJ6HSWHPEHUVIRUDORQJWLPH year generally where our average crowd improving service to members during The city of Melbourne came alive with size increased to 51,000, up from 47,000 our busiest event days, we have decided the irresistible momentum of the Tigers in 2016. to trial a separate members’ enclosure and the attendance numbers at the One of the club's key focuses continues in Yarra Park outside Gate 2 for the use JURXQGUHĂHFWHGWKDWZLWKWZRāQDOV to be on improving our customer service. of members and their guests during RIDQGDFDSDFLW\JUDQGāQDO Everyone loves the MCG, but our goal is the Ashes Test. This additional facility of 100,021. The noise generated at the for all our patrons to walk away from a for members will hopefully take some 5LFKPRQGJDPHVZDVH[WUDRUGLQDU\DQG YLVLWWRWKHÙ*WKLQNLQJKRZH[WUDRUGLQDU\ of the pressure off the more popular reminded us again how lucky we are to our staff were in making their day so bars within the Reserve and provide a have a ground the size of the MCG to special. IDQWDVWLFH[SHULHQFHIRUPHPEHUVVLPLODU host these huge crowds and a ground :HZHUHWKHUHIRUHYHU\H[FLWHGWR to the outdoor entertaining areas at which retains the atmosphere so well. recently win the Customer Service Lord’s with their champagne bar and Congratulations must go to Richmond Project of the Year award at the Nursery Ground picnic areas that work president, Peggy O'Neill and CEO, $XVWUDOLDQ6HUYLFH([FHOOHQFH$ZDUGV so well. Brendan Gale for following through on earlier this month for our CARE project. Last month also saw the club take WKHLUDPELWLRXVāYH\HDUSODQWRDFKLHYH The project involves thousands of our control of MCC Kew Sports Club, DPHPEHUVKLSH[FHHGLQJDQGD people being trained in the key habits ZKLFKZDVH[SHULHQFLQJVRPHāQDQFLDO premiership. Halfway through the year to great customer service. Much credit GLIāFXOWLHV:HKDYHFRPPLVVLRQHGDQ the prospects of Richmond winning the goes to Stuart and his senior leadership independent report on options for future ĂDJORRNHGUHPRWHEXWWKHLUVXFFHVVLV team for driving this project and to all use of the facility and we will be looking a reminder of how quickly things can our staff for embracing it with so much at ways to ensure that it becomes a turn around in our game when you have enthusiasm. The best part is we are only vibrant and viable venue. There is still momentum. two years into the three-year program some work to be done on future plans It's now two fairytales in a row after and there is still much to be done to and I will come back to members once the Bulldogs win in 2016, which is great reach the level that we are all aspiring to. WKHUHLVDPRUHGHāQLWLYHSURSRVDOLQ news for Melbourne supporters, as Whilst on the topic of awards we were place. they say “everything comes in threes”, also thrilled to win the Best Achievement I would also like to take the opportunity so hopefully 2018 will be the year of the to congratulate Paul Sheahan on Demons. becoming our newest Honorary Life +RZHYHUEHIRUHZHJHWWRRH[FLWHG “ Our goal is for all member. Life membership is the about football we have the Ashes series our patrons to walk greatest accolade that can be bestowed to look forward to. Whilst both sides away from a visit to upon members of the club and Paul have had patchy form over the past was a deserving recipient with his year, none of that will detract from the 'G thinking how H[WUDRUGLQDU\FRQWULEXWLRQWRWKHFOXE the gripping tension that is always at extaordinary our staff over many years at the highest level. It the heart of any clash between these was a very emotional Paul who accepted traditional rivals. It will be an absorbing were in making their the award at the recent AGM. summer of cricket. day so special. It has been a good year for the club. We also look forward to welcoming 7KHUHKDVEHHQVLJQLāFDQWFKDQJHZLWK our friends from the Marylebone Cricket in Venue Management at the Australian Stuart taking over from our highly Club who will be travelling to Australia Event Awards in September. The MCG regarded CEO of 17 years, Stephen to watch their national team in action. was recognised for its achievements over Gough, and the retirement of some long- We are delighted to be joined by their a 12-month period in 2016/17, including standing committee members. However, President, the RT Hon Lord MacLaurin the Guns N’ Roses concert, international it is this regeneration of personnel at of Knebworth, their chairman, Gerald soccer, the AFL Grand Final and many committee and management levels &RUEHWWWRJHWKHUZLWKVL[RIWKHLU more. that will continue to provide new ideas committee colleagues as our guests for To round out a very successful and refreshed enthusiasm to help us WKH%R[LQJ'D\7HVW period, the MCG was recognised for its continually strive to identify how we can As we rapidly approach Christmas it is a sustainability practices, being named do things better at the MCG. JRRGWLPHWRUHĂHFWRQWKH\HDUWKDWKDV WKH%HVW&RPPHUFLDO(QHUJ\(IāFLHQF\ I wish you and your families a safe been for the club. 3URMHFWDWWKH1DWLRQDO(QHUJ\(IāFLHQF\ and happy Christmas and hope you 6WXDUW)R[RYHUVDZKLVāUVWIRRWEDOO Awards. enjoy what promises to be a fascinating season as CEO and we are delighted with 7KLVUHFRJQLWLRQFRQāUPVKRZWDOHQWHG summer of cricket against our traditional WKHZD\KHKDVāWWHGLQ+HLVGRLQJD our team is and how dedicated they are English rivals. great job in managing the operations of in their determination to ensure the the ground which, as mentioned, were MCG remains the benchmark for all challenging with the big crowds that other stadia in Australia and overseas. NOVEMBER 2017 MCC NEWS 3 CLUB NEWS Sports facility in Kew open for business ince our last edition, there have been Our long-term intention is for the site social aspect. SVRPHVLJQLāFDQWGHYHORSPHQWVZLWK to remain as a sports facility, run for the With multi-purpose bowling greens, regards to the governance of the sports EHQHāWRIPHPEHUV en tout cas tennis courts and coaching, and recreational facility available to MCC We have commissioned an independent DQDFWLYHEULGJHFOXEJURXSāWQHVV members in Barkers Road, Kew.